Illinois Teaching Jobs Saved by Stimulus
Posted on May 18, 2009
Federal stimulus money is helping to maintain and create Illinois teaching jobs.
School districts will receive stimulus money in three waves. The first two are aimed at giving districts more money for special education and Title I, a program for low-income students. The four Illinois Quad-City districts will receive $4.6 million and $2.6 million in special education and Title I money. The last chunk of money will come in the form of state fiscal stabilization funds, which Illinois will use to maintain state funding levels for districts during this school year and next school year.
According to an article by the Quad-City Times, some potential plans for the stimulus money include:
Districts say the funds have helped them avoid making staff and program cuts this year. The Illinois State Board of Education has said the funds help free money so the state can catch up on other payments to districts for services like special education, free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs and transportation.